Voice Testing Post

[use_everything]

Canon

A.

[You may find yourself facing large, heavy gates. Behind the bars, you can easily see the enormous, austere residence spread both tall and wide against a backdrop of a lake, stables and a small, private cemetery. The unbridled horse grazing, unhitched beside a carriage, by a liveried servant is in direct opposition to an obviously futuristic lightflier not far from it.

Even the guard that narrows to nervous attention holds both a sword and a strange, small device.]

And you are?

[The voice comes from behind.

Aral, for his part, neither looks, nor feels the part of the lord. Having taken the long way, treacherous and unmonitored paths and foothills back to the residence, he smells of sap, a chemical tinge of smoke and the exertion it took to get back. His green dress uniform had survived in all but the pressed edges, looking as if he'd intended the slight look of disarray and set jaw.

He lifts a hand, stilling the guard from comment on him, and focuses all of his attention on this newcomer.]

B.

[The Counts and Minsters poured out of the building first. The debates of the evening being traded in words so sharp that they might as well have been blows. Aral followed much more sedately, having taken a bit of time to brief his intelligence officer and leave orders for the evening.

It's by chance he stumbled across a stranger, enough out of place to inspire both caution and curiosity in equal measures.]

You seem lost.

Mask or Menace

C.

[It helped to liken the city to a space station. It had the bustle of a large hub.. the rowdy clash and wild fusion of fashions and cultures that defied any easy identification of a trend or perhaps some anthropological hint as to the people - and species... intelligent and alien, the very thought sent his mind into fits of fantasy and planning at once. It was like water, as far as he could tell. Formless, impossible to grip, but could fill the air around you and sweep one far away should he let it. There were colors and layers fitting the ghem Cetagandan... lack of modesty known to the Betans... the maliable gathering of anything adorned by a Jacksonian mindset...

And yet, nothing that fit anything else.

There was only one way to begin. Diplomatically.]

Might I ask a question?

OTHER

[Pick your poison, or let me know and I'll cater a starter to you.]

Comments

[keep_nothing]

[ She frowns. Something is missing there. ]

What about your decision?

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I've made mine.

The whole game they've been playing has been to keep Gregor's identity quiet. There's no reason my presence should destroy that.

I imagine the plan will be for me to assume the role of Count and leave the villain, Lord Vorkosigan free. Still, it might give us some trouble by association.

[keep_nothing]

[ She tries not to reject his decision out of slight, but it's hard to hide her eyes from him. ]

But the lie will just become bigger won't it? Having to keep its own cover by adding more and more details.

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Oh. It's already unbelievably convoluted. Twisted, contradictory and nonsensical in it's own way. [Dendarii. Honestly.] And it certainly caused the... mess today. Frankly, I can practically feel the blood pressure of ImpSec collectively going up by the double digits every next part I hear.

But something like this is nothing that can go backwards.

Besides, I have a suspicion at least some aspects of it hold some weight I haven't fully grasped.

[keep_nothing]

[ Her lip twitches at the thought of that. Poor Illyan. ]

But even if you were Count instead of Lord, what does that make us to Miles? Would we still be his parents? I don't want to lie about that.

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Were that he were whom he claim to be, would you not consider him a son as well?

[keep_nothing]

He could claim to be the emperor and I'd still say he was mine.

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Lets not offer any new ideas.

[keep_nothing]

[ She puffs out a breath at that, an aborted laugh. He probably didn't mean that as a joke. ]

But wouldn't it be simpler to drop the grander lie in order to keep the smaller one? Go back on this clone of an evil Lord while still keeping Gregor's cover?

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I'll be happy to see it fizzle into obscurity. Without repetition, hopefully it should fall into rumor and then nothing at all.

[It was a weak, shallow hope though. The afternoon coffee he'd had with the intense Miss Jones spoke otherwise. That could be a problem.]

It will be something I suggest. [He nods to her.]

[keep_nothing]

Miles could also squash it entirely by telling the truth too.

[ Though she doesn't believe that herself, but wanted to say it out loud. For completeness if nothing else. ]

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[He would like to leave her that, to simply agree. His hand traces down her side, soothing.]

Without Admiral Naismith all of Greg Vorthys falls into doubt.

No, it must be committed in full or deconstructed.

[keep_nothing]

[ She lets out a slow sigh, closing her eyes briefly to feel his hand all the more. Her voice lowers almost to a whisper. ]

So deconstruction isn't out of the question?

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[He shakes his head.]

Not as such. It's as viable an option as continuing.

[keep_nothing]

[ She knows what she wants her answer to be, but ... ]

And Gregor?

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He is the one, most of all of us, who stands to gain most or lose all while here. ... You the second most.

Our son favors dropping it all, but when he talked he was only worried about the name. I told him to talk to Gregor. I would speak with you.

[keep_nothing]

[ She tilts her head up to look at him. ]

Why am I second? I would think you would be, being the actual Lord Vorkosigan.

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All that's offended is my reputation. As I'm aware of the truth of the matter, it is hardly an issue.

If we were to catalog all what I consider more valuable we'd need to hire on a microbiologist to start.

[keep_nothing]

[ She gives a faint smile, head still turned up to him. ]

Still not sure why I rate second though ...

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[His hand reaches up to cup the side of her face, thumb brushing lightly over her lips once.]

On one path is a simpler life. Not free of trouble or danger, but I'm afraid, dear Captain, that is beyond my power.

On the other is more politics and games. Your association to me, being what it would be, might face you with difficulties as well. Still, if anyone could navigate this without damage to her honor...

[keep_nothing]

[ She tilts her head into his hand, her smile growing briefly wider under his thumb. It dims slightly at the latter choice he describes, knowing the impact it would have on not just her, but both of them. ]

Offering me a choice when Ezar offered you none ...

[use_everything]

[He doesn't answer that, expression lidded. His hand remains on her cheek, warm.]

[keep_nothing]

[ She keeps her gaze on him, eyes looking into his. She lifts her hand to his, covering his fingers with her own. ]

This is your choice as much as mine. What do you want? And I don't mean what you think is right or should be done to keep everyone safe ... what do you want?

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[His eyes were stormy, the struggle and consternation it brought with it reflected clearly in in them. It had an echo to the words Gregor had used early to throw him off.

It was such a Betan sentiment. But, he was not Barrayaran to the bone, it permeated to the cellular level.]

I'm not sure that's so easy for me to separate.

...

Let me sleep on it.

[keep_nothing]

[ She knew it would not be an easy question for him, letting that storm brew in him for the hope that it would settle and clear on its own. She leans up to press her lips to his in a soft kiss. ]